How to start a carburated car

[nsmall]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qx_Dl139pvY

Everyone probably knows this but I didnt so I wanted to share the video.   

[Cudamike]

Not every car is the same. If I pumped 4 times it wouldn't start. My car likes 2 pumps. When it is hot it starts like the directions he gave.

[BIGSHCLUNK]

I would hope everyone here know the nuances of their car. All are just a little different IMO. I'm a "manual choke" guy.... this eliminates 31/32's of the population right off the bat. My carb has BIG squirts, so once to the floor as I set the choke. Then the magic part. (I'm talking cold start here). I need to give here 30/45 seconds for the fuel to "vapor" a bit . Hit the key and work the gas and choke all at the same time. Keep your foot in it a little until she idles up (depends on temp /humidity).  Once she has a little heat you can just hit the key an go 

I guess I just gave away one of NIKKI's secrets.    Trying to start her like in that video would get you nowhere. Now that you all know how to get here started I will make sure the garage alarm is set ! 

[70vert]

pressing pedal 4 times must be a Ford thing, my 440 starts every time with just 1 press 

[Jocigar]

On our 67 dart slant six; turn the key and pump as fast as you can as many times as possible until is fires.   Pump takes forever to prime and feed the one barrel.    

[7212Mopar]

When I had my Edelbrock 650 AVS, 2 pumps cold start. When hot usually needs to crank for awhile or let it cool down. With my 750 Quickfuel, same cold start and usually one or two tries when hot. Both electric choke and in northern CA. Now with EFI, turn key and wait for pump prime stops, crank and it starts right away every time. When hot it used to take a few tries. That problem was solved after I change to an insulating gasket. Now hot or cold start is the same. With EFI, I usually put in gear after 30s and can back the car out without engine stalling. With carb, I need the engine warm up some and can get out of fast idle before I can put in gear and not stall the engine. 

[cuda hunter]

440 truck with 600 edelbrock.  manual choke.  pump four times, crank.  No start, pump 4 more times, crank.
no start, be careful, this is where she floods.  pump once, crank, usually starts.   For some reason, she can be a beeitch. 
400 barracuda w/ 750 quickfuel,  turn electric pump on, let pressurize a few seconds, pump twice, crank.  No start, pump twice, crank, usually starts here. 
428 Pontiac Grand Prix.  has a 71 quadrajet,  turn key, pump until she starts. 
383 w/ edelbrock 650,  newport, pump it 4-6 times crank until she starts.  If no start, a few pumps again and she will start up.
383 stock 2 barrel ,newport,  pump a bunch while cranking.  Usually starts pretty quick while pumping.
440 proform, electric pump pressurized, Pump 2 times, crank.  no start, pump 2 times and crank. Starts.
360 85 stock truck 1 ton, pump til it starts.

That mustang would be a carter carburetor, I think.  My buddy with carters and big blocks usually pumps just like that mustang's book says and they always start.  Even after sitting in a field for what seems like years.  Those ford motors are quite the reliable motor in that way.  Even with old crappy gas.

Cool Video!  Thanks for posting it up.  I had never seen a factory diagram of how to start a car. 

[Bullitt-]

   This reminds me of "How Many Licks Does It Take To Get To A Tootsie Pop's Center?"

First off I have never heard of turning the key on prior to interacting with the accelerator/carb...
Only reason I could see this is if you have an electric pump.  My 240Z had an electric pump but didn't require this.

  Josh, you remind me of my Dad & our ' 66 383-2barrel Polara.. He would start stomping the accelerator to the floor & on about the 6th while continuing to stomp start cranking.  Worked every time, cold or hot. 
 
I don't remember having to do much back in the day except on very cold days letting them warm up before putting in gear or they might die, that may have been from poor tunes though. 
   Here are a few videos I took a while back after rebuilding my Thermoquad.
  Timing set at 15-degrees initial aprox 34 total, Fast idle 1200 warmed up 850
Why I do what I do I can only imagine is from muscle memory of past experience.
First one as I recall was on a colder night than usual that I wanted to see how difficult to start it might be. Notice I gave 4-quick pumps then cranked. Fired right off

Here's one some time later after it's warmed up.... No pump, just crank

This is our buddy Larry's carb after sitting long enough for the choke to cool down, I suppose I had pumped once to set it..

Then Larry's all warmed up, notice it didn't fire off the first try & appears I gave it a quick pump, did not hold down.

      Maybe Thermoquads are just easy 

[tparker]

Another thing at play is the blends of todays gas. From what I understand it is less stable and evaps away much easier. If you only drive your car occasionally, every couple weeks or so, then starting can be harder, at least with our California blends. You can pump till the cows come home, but if you don't have fuel in the carb, it won't start. That first start requires running the fuel pump a few seconds to feed the carb with fuel. Then usually with a couple pumps it starts, more or less. At least that is my case. Warm doesn't require any pumps. Cold the next day may or many not require a pump or two, but it starts almost immediately.

[MoparLeo]

I  noticed his wiring prowess under the dash...Depends on so many things. Any procedure will depend on engine build, Whether the car was properly tuned before it was last run( timing, idle/choke adjustments/accelerator pump condition.) Type of fuel, condition of ignition system/plugs etc...
What ever works for your combination. Just a basic information video.